(Close shot of adult hands setting a covered shoebox on a bedspread and removing the lid. Music "You've Got A Friend" - James Taylor starts. The hands pick up a stack of photographs. The first is a color photo of Kevin and Paul kneeling next to another boy who holds a basketball, all wearing gym clothes. One hand sets that photo on the bedspread, revealing a B/W photo of Paul balancing himself on the handlebars of Kevin's bike.)

"When you're down and troubled"

(The hand sets that photo on the bedspread revealing a B/W photo turned sideways, of Kevin and Paul limply holding their tongues out. The hands turn the stack 90 degrees to put the photo face-up.)

It's hard to imagine being twelve years old...

(The hand puts the photo on the bedspread.)

"And you need a helpin' hand"

And going without certain things.

(The next photo is of Paul and Kevin, sitting outside at night.)

Like three months off in the summertime.

(That photo is set on the bed, revealing another photo of Kevin and Paul.)

Or a good bicycle to cruise the neighborhood on.

(That photo is set down, revealing a B/W photo turned sideways. The hands turn it face-up. It is a closer shot of Kevin and Paul frowning at the camera.)

"When nothin', oh nothin' is goin' right"

More than anything though, it's hard to imagine being twelve years old...

(That photo is set down, revealing a B/W of Paul smiling broadly, and wearing a sombrero.)

And not having a best-friend like Paul Pfeiffer.

(Wider shot of the hands as they set the stack on the bedspread.)

"Close your eyes and think of me"

(Close shot of the stack of photos next to the previous ones.)

Paul was the nicest kid I ever knew.

(Shot of the open shoebox as a hand reaches into it and extracts a set of baseball cards rubber-banded together, and holds them close to the camera.)

He would have done anything for me - I know it.

(The hands remove the rubber band.)

And I would have done anything for him.

(One hand sets down the stack of cards, as the other holds a folded card of Carl Yastrzemksi. The other hand unfolds it.)

"Even your darkest nights"

At least, I always thought I would.

(The hands turn the card over to the back side, which has all the statistics.)

(Slow-motion shot of Kevin with the ball, as an opposing player guards him. The camera pans with the ball as Kevin bounces it to Paul, who dribbles foprward a few steps.)

As soon as we started to play, I knew something was wrong.

(Slow-motion shot of Kevin and an opposing player, as Kevin looks at Paul off-screen.)

(Slow-motion shot of Paul and an oppososing player as Paul jumps up for a hook-shot.)

Paul was like a man possessed.

(Slow-motion shot of the basket as the ball sails over it.)

Unfortunately...

(Close slow-motion shot of Kevin watching the ball off-screen.)

He was not like a man...

(Close slow-motion shot of another team-mate frowning slightly as he watches the ball off-screen.)

Possessed of a great deal of athletic ability.

(Slow-motion shot of Kevin patting Paul on the shoulder.)

(Wider slow-motion shot of Kevin dribbling and shooting a lay-up.)

(Closer slow-motion shot of Kevin turning around as another player retrieves the ball, and slaps Kevin's hand.)

(Wider slow-motion shot of Rygot bounce-passing the ball between a defenders legs to Kevin. The camera pans with the ball as Kevin throws it to Paul. Paul passes it toward the camera, and the ball is intercepted by an opponent, who dribbles in for a lay-up. The camera pans down to Paul who frowns and sighs. Kevin approaches and pats him on the shoulder.)

(Close slow-motion shot of Mr. Cutlip turning away and frowning, then looking back toward the game.)

(Wide slow-motion shot of a group of boys. Paul is waving both arms over his head.)

(Closer slow-motion shot of Paul waving his arms.)

(Wider slow-motion shot of the group of boys. One boy passes the ball to a team-mate, and they run off-screen. Paul waves both arms at them in disappointment, and walks slowly after them.)

(Slow motion shot of Kevin approaching with the ball, then slowing up and looking for someone to pass it to.)

(Slow-motion shot of Kevin in the background being guarded by two opponents, and Paul in the forground waving his arms. Kevin passes the ball to Paul, who turns and dribbles a few times. Two of his team-mates motion for the ball, and Paul holds on to it as they try to take it from him.)

(Very close slow-motion shot of Rygot frowning into the camera.)

(Slow-motion shot of Paul mouthing "no" to another player.)

(Very close slow-motion shot of another team-mate looking into the camera and saying something.)

(Slow-motion shot of Paul looking around and mouthing "no".)

(Slow-motion shot of Kevin looking at Paul off-screen.)

Cut to
Int. - Lockers

(Normal speed shot of Paul sitting on the bench, buttoning his shirt. The music finishes the crescendo.)

(Close shot of Paul looking down.)

KEVIN (V/O): Hey, Paul.

(Paul looks up at Kevin off-screen.)

(Kevin approaches past the camera and leans against the lockers.)

(Shot past Paul of Kevin looking at him.)

KEVIN: Sure beats cross-country, huh?

(Shot past Kevin of Paul looking at him.)

PAUL: You didn't even pass it to me.

(Shot past Paul of Kevin looking at him.)

KEVIN: Well, you weren't open.

(Shot past Kevin of Paul looking at him.)

PAUL: Oh, yeah, right. I wasn't even being covered. (Frowns.)

(Shot past Paul of Kevin who fiddles with the lock on a locker.)

PAUL: I'm not that bad, am I?

(Close shot of Kevin looking at Paul off-screen.)

Ouch. The question you hoped they'd never ask.

KEVIN: No, you're not...(shrugs)...that bad.

(Close shot of Paul looking at Kevin off-screen.)

PAUL: You think I stink, don't you?

(Close shot of Kevin looking at Paul off-screen.)

KEVIN: Paul, I didn't say that. I think you're...

(Kevin glances off briefly, and shrugs.)

KEVIN: Good.

(Close shot of Paul looking at Kevin off-screen.)

PAUL: No you don't.

(Close shot of Kevin looking at Paul off-screen.)

KEVIN: Yes, I do.

(Close shot of Paul looking off.)

PAUL: Shut up...

KEVIN: Look, Paul...I think you're good - how many times do you want me to say it?! You're good, you're good, you're good!

(Shot past Kevin of Paul looking at him, then gathering his books quickly.)

PAUL: Just forget it, alright?!

(Paul hurries past Kevin and the camera.)

(Shot of Kevin frowning as Paul walks away past him.)

(Close shot of Kevin turning around and sighing slightly.)

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Paul forcefully tossing his towel in the hamper and walking off.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking after Paul off-screen, then leaning back against the locker. He purses his lips and blows out.)

Fade to
Gym

(Shot of Mr. Cutlip holding a basketball, next to all the boys lined up behind the captains.)

Things didn't get a lot better for Paul over the next couple of weeks.

(Slow-motion shot of one of Kevin's team-mates dribbling the ball, then tossing it up toward the basket. The other team gets the rebound. A boy falls down, then Joey falls down, tripping another team-mate.)

(Close slow-motion shot of Kevin rubbing his forehead and frowning.)

(Slow-motion shot of Joey dribbling the ball very high, and approaching the camera. An opponent strips the ball from him and shoots a lay-up.)

(Slow-motion close shot of Kevin frowning as he looks over his shoulder, then rubs his forehead.)

(Slow-motion close shot of Mr. Cutlip looking at them off-screen, then smiling slightly as he looks down at his clipboard.)

(Slow-motion shot of Paul as an opponent approaches him with the ball.)

(Slow-motion closer shot of Paul dodging one way as the opponent passes him.)

(Wider slow-motion shot of Paul looking over his shoulder as the opponent drives to the basket and shoots a lay-up.)

(Slow-motion shot of Kevin and some others as a team-mate approaches with the ball. He shoots, but the ball is blocked by an opponent. Joey gets the ball, which is then stolen from him.)

(Wider slow-motion shot of Joey looking after the opponent with the ball, as they approach and pass the camera.)

(Slow-motion close shot of Kevin frowning and blinking.)

(Slow-motion close shot of Mr. Cutlip smiling.)

(Slow-motion shot of Joey passing the ball.)

(Wider slow-motion shot of a group of boys jumping up for the ball. An opponent gets it and shoots a jump-shot.)

(Slow-motion close shot of Kevin frowning and rubbing his forehead.)

(Slow-motion close shot of Mr. Cutlip smiling slightly as he glances up from his clipboard.)

(Wide slow-motion shot of an opponent shooting a lay-up.)

(Slow-motion close shot of Kevin as an opponent runs past him.)

(Wide slow-motion shot of an opponent shooting a short jump-shot.)

(Slow-motion close shot of Kevin frowning as he looks over his shoulder.)

(Wide slow-motion shot of an opponent shooting a short jump-shot.)

(Slow-motion close shot of Kevin looking off.)

(Slow-motion shot of an opponent shooting a short jump-shot.)

(Slow-motion close shot of Kevin rubbing his forehead.)

(Five slow-motion shots of five different opponents shooting a short jump-shot.)

(Four slow-motion shots of the ball going in the basket.)

(Wide slow-motion shot of Kevin as he passes the ball. The camera pans to Paul as he catches the ball, and bounce-passes it toward the camera. The camera pans with the ball as an opponent intercepts it, then passes it to a team-mate.)

(Slow-motion shot of the opponent shooting the basket. The camera pans with the ball as it goes in the basket.)

(Normal speed shot of Kevin as he makes a time-out signal. The music ends.)

KEVIN: Time!

(Shot of Mr. Cutlip looking up from his clipboard and smirking.)

(Shot of Kevin taking a few steps and turning toward the camera as his team-mates huddle around him.)

KEVIN: What's the matter with you guys?! (Frowns.)

(Close shot of Paul frowning at Kevin off-screen.)

KEVIN (V/O): You're not even getting back on defense.

(Shot of Kevin and his team-mates.)

(Closer shot of one boy.)

(Shot of Kevin and the guys.)

KEVIN: Harold. You gotta box your man in a little bit. If he gives you the inside lane, go for it. What we've gotta do is pass the ball. We gotta have teamwork.

(Kevin looks at each of his team-mates.)

It was like watching sea-monkeys come to life.

(Close shot of Kevin looking at them off-screen.)

Not as impressive as you'd hoped...

(Close shot of Joey looking down.)

But at least they were wiggling.

(Close shot of Kevin looking around the guys.)

KEVIN: Alright, gather 'round here.

(Kevin kneels.)

Maybe, just maybe...

(Close shot of Paul as he shrugs slightly and kneels.)

This could work.

(Shot past Paul of Kevin.)

Sure, we were out-manned.

(Shot past Kevin of Paul.)

But we had the brains.

(Kevin glances toward another boy off-screen.)

(Shot of a team-mate nodding.)

If we worked together as a team...

(Close shot of Joey looking down.)

If we used our heads and our hearts...

(Shot past Paul of Kevin.)

And our souls...

(Close shot of another team-mate nodding slightly.)

We could beat these guys.

(Shot of Kevin smiling as he stands up.)

KEVIN: OK - we can do this.

(Music starts again.)

(Slow-motion shot of one of Kevin's team-mates passing the ball to another team-mate, who tosses it to a third team-mate, who passes it to Kevin. Kevin tosses the ball.)

(Slow-motion shot of Joey and two opponents as he catches the ball. Joey throws it - out of bounds.)

(Slow-motion shot of Kevin frowning as he turns toward the camera and rubs his forehead.)

Unfortunately, we were not only very unathletic, we were also...very stupid.

(Close slow-motion shot of Kevin with the ball, being defended.)

(Slow-motion shot of Paul standing with his hand on his hip.)

(Wider slow-motion shot of Kevin passing the ball to Paul.)

(Closer slow-motion shot of Paul holding the ball as a defender runs past him and steals the ball.)

(Wider slow-motion shot of the guys as the one boy shots a lay-up.)

(Close shot motion shot of Kevin frowning.)

(Slow-motion shot of Paul turning, and walking up the court.)

And we had a very bad attitude.

(Normal-speed shot of Kevin bouncing the ball angrily. The music stops. Paul passes the camera.)

KEVIN: What are you doing?!

(Shot past Kevin of Paul looking at him.)

PAUL: I'm playing basketball. Maybe you've heard of it?

(Shot past Paul of Kevin looking at him.)

KEVIN: You're not even trying!

(Shot past Kevin of Paul looking at him.)

PAUL: So what? Just leave me alone. (Frowns.)

(Shot past Paul of Kevin looking at him.)

KEVIN: No, I won't! That play was pathetic!

(Closer shot past Kevin of Paul shaking his head.)

PAUL: Who cares...(Frowns.)

(Closer shot past Paul of Kevin looking at him.)

KEVIN: Look - I know you're not this bad.

(Close shot of Paul looking at Kevin off-screen.)

PAUL: Well, maybe I am.

(Close shot past Paul of Kevin looking at him.)

KEVIN: Well maybe if you got off your butt a little bit, you might be doin' better!

(Shot of Paul glancing around as kids laugh.)

PAUL: Gimme the ball.

KEVIN: Nope. Forget it.

(Kevin holds the ball up, slightly behind him.)

KEVIN: Not if you're not gonna try.

(Close shot past Kevin of Paul looking at him.)

PAUL: I said - give me the ball.

(Close shot of Kevin looking at Paul off-screen a moment, then tossing the ball to him.)

(Wider shot of Paul, Kevin and an opponent as Paul catches the ball. Paul turns and starts to dribble as Kevin runs up court past the camera.)

And then it happened.

(Close slow-motion shot of Kevin looking at Paul off-screen. Some dramatic music plays.)

It was the miracle.

(Slow-motion shot of Paul dribbling past an opponent.)

(Slow-motion shot of Kevin and another boy looking at Paul off-screen.)

It was the impossible.

(Slow-motion shot of Paul as he leaps up for a hook-shot.)

(A successions of two closer slow-motion shots and one wider slow-motion shot of Paul shooting the ball.)

It was the dream come true.

(Close slow-motion shot of Kevin looking up at the ball off-screen.)

(Slow-motion shot of the ball in mid-air.)

(Slow-motion shot of Joey and an opponent watching the ball off-screen.)

(Close slow-motion shot of an opponent watching the ball off-screen.)

(Close slow-motion shot of another opponent watching the ball off-screen.)

(Closer slow-motion shot of the ball in mid-air.)

(Close slow-motion shot of Paul looking after the ball off-screen.)

(Slow-motion shot of Mr. Cutlip on the sideline, looking forward, as the ball hits him on the top of his head.)

(Closer slow-motion shot of Mr. Cutlip as the ball bounces away, and he stumbles backward as he makes a face.)

(Close shot of Paul looking surprised.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking toward Mr. Cutlip off-screen.)

(Slow-motion shot of Mr. Cutlip as he squeezes his arms across his chest and spits out a red jellybean.)

(Close normal speed shot of the jellybean as it bounces onto the floor. Music ends.)

(Close shot of Paul looking toward Mr. Cutlip off-screen.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking toward Mr. Cutlip off-screen.)

(Shot of Mr. Cutlip bent over holding his throat as he coughs and walks away.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking toward Mr. Cutlip off-screen.)

(Shot of Mr. Cutlip coughing and walking toward the door. He reaches for the handle, and bumps his head on the door. He adjusts his hat and exits through the door.)